Richard Jones introduced 97-year-old war veteran Fergus Anckhorn to the BGT audience after creating a magic trick around his life story (Picture: ITV)

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Richard Jones set the bar high during Saturday night’s final after using magic to tell the story of a 97-year-old war veteran – then brought him onstage.

Richard – who is a soldier in the British army – drew upon his own military background to deliver the card trick in which he described the life of Fergus Anckorn, whose love of magic helped him survive life in a prisoner of war camp during World War II.

But not content with delivering a cracking illusion based around the life of Fergus – who is the oldest member of the Magic Circle – Richard ended the routine by introducing the 97-year-old onstage.

The judges were feeling similarly emotional afterwards with Alesha saying: ‘Oh my goodness, Richard – that was so incredible, poignant, noble, brilliantly British – I just loved everything about that.’

Amanda, meanwhile, described the act as ‘absolutely extraordinary’ – but she also had a cheeky request for Fergus.

‘My grandmother is 95 and single and in the audience if you want to meet in the bar afterwards – she’s right there.’

Fergus, who was born in 1918, was stationed to Singapore in the Second World War and worked on the infamous Burma Railway along with many other allied prisoners of war.